Discussion Questions: "Ain't I A Woman?" by bell hooks

[Ashley]

Did this book change your view of the Women’s Movement and/or the
Black Movement? If so, how?

Hooks briefly addresses the contributions of black feminists
(Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Angela Davis) throughout modern history,
but focuses more on their exclusion from wider social justice
circles. Is this a fair description of their role in feminism, or is
she playing down their influence in order to further her argument?

When discussing black women’s sexuality, hooks makes the claim that in
the U.S., it is more socially acceptable for white women and black men
to be romantically involved than it is for black women and white men.
Do you agree with this?

The majority of the book focuses on black¬-white and female-male
dichotomies within a heterosexual framework. Is there a place that
sexual and racial “others” fit within this model? Does this detract
from her critique of the Women’s Movement and the Black Movement?

The book deeply explores the historical roots of the oppression of
black women within both feminism and the black community. What can be
done in the present day to combat the continuation of these
oppressions?

In her critique of the Women’s Movement, states that one of the ways
that racism was expressed was through the issues that they chose to
focus on – primarily, those affecting middle- to upper-class white,
heterosexual women. What do you consider to be the major causes of
feminism today? Do these causes address issues facing all women?

The final chapter of the book discusses the notion that the liberation
movements of the 1970’s could not be truly feminist as they looked
only to advance within the patriarchical framework. For example, hooks
criticizes the Women’s Movement for focusing on the advancement of
white, upper-class women within the capitalist business world. Do you
agree with this definition of feminism?

Related question: What do you envision a truly feminist movement to
look like?